Talks held to end bin strikes in Scotland

Talks are being held in an attempt to end the bin strikes in Scotland.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney will meet with unions and council body Cosla.

In Edinburgh, refuse workers are halfway through a two-week strike. Bins in the capital are overflowing. Refuse staff in 13 other areas started their strike on Wednesday. Several more local authorities are set to join the strike on Friday.

It is believed most of the councils involved in the dispute won't have any bin collections until the end of the month.

More strikes are planned between 6 and 13 September in more than 20 council areas.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said "For five months Cosla and the Scottish government have dithered and bickered with each other while our members have increasingly faced a cost of living crisis.

"We will fully support them in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

According to Cosla, unions rejected a pay offer that would have meant the lowest paid 12 per cent of council workers would get a pay increase of more than 5 per cent. Unions have called for more government funding to pay for an improved offer.

Image: Pixabay